Preeclampsia?

[LorryHen]

Am I too early to be worrying about preeclampsia?

I just had my 16 week appointment and my blood pressure is now 128/85, at ten weeks it was something over /78.

I am overweight but it seems really high.

They didn't seem concerned now but I feel they might have rushed the appointment.

It's very early to be worrying about pre-eclampsia; it tends to come on from about 20 weeks at the earliest.

I'm not a midwife or any sort of HCP so this isn't medical advice but your BP, while on the high side, isn't desperately high - when they say high they mean high! Here is some good advice about what it is and what to look out for.

I had it with DD1; I was getting protein in my urine and on occasion visual disturbances (black spots, flashing lights) but it actually wasn't until 40 weeks that my blood pressure shot up (and by that I mean 160ish/90ish) and a blood test at about 38 weeks showed that my kidneys were getting quite upset with it all. I'd been having tests from about 35 weeks as all the markers were there for PET except the elevated BP (if anything I tend towards hypotension normally). Obviously the BP reading which confirmed it wasn't great, but we agreed there and then that she needed to come out and I was induced. DD was absolutely fine and I didn't have any other adverse effects.

I'm now 22 weeks with DD2 and being a little more closely monitored than other second time mothers but apparently the risk of repeat PET isn't as high as I'd thought (I'd assumed that I was pretty much guaranteed it but my consultant reckons I've got about a 25% chance). I've been prescribed low-dose aspirin, as there are some studies which have shown it's beneficial in pregnancies at high risk of PET, but I wouldn't just go and take it off my own bat.

they let you get to about 140/90 before worrying during pregnancy. but I bet you anything it was higher because you were nervous about the appointment and rushing around to get there.

I have a BP monitor at home after doing a lighter life diet a few years ago, and at home it is currently about 108/61. when I had my booking-in, it was about 125/74 and when I had my 16 week mw it was about 118/70... when I was in the EPU with a little bleed, it was about 150/90, not surprisingly, that was a horrible day!

I wouldn't worry if the mw wasn't worried, but you can always get your own monitor to test in the peace and quiet of your own home if you are bothered.